Press Release of the Council of Ministers

The President of the Republic, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Minister of National Defense, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers on Sunday. The meeting was dedicated to presentations on the national strategy for the development of the petrochemical industry for the production of raw materials, monitoring the progress of the sheep importation operation in preparation for Eid El-Adha, as well as monitoring the progress of the Bled El Hadba mining railway and Annaba Port extension projects, and the situation of the Algerian Water Company (ADE) and water management, according to a press release from the Council of Ministers, the translation of which is as follows:

"The President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Minister of National Defense, chaired today a meeting of the Council of Ministers, dedicated to presentations on the national strategy for the development of the petrochemical industry for the production of raw materials, monitoring the progress of the sheep importation operation in preparation for Eid El-Adha, as well as monitoring the progress of the Bled El Hadba mining railway and Annaba Port extension projects, and the situation of the Algerian Water Company (ADE) and water management.

After the presentation of the agenda of the Council of Ministers, followed by a presentation by the Prime Minister of the Government's activities over the past two weeks, the President of the Republic gave the following instructions, directives, and orientations:

First: regarding the national strategy for the development of the petrochemical industry for the production of raw materials

• The President of the Republic ordered the acceleration of the exploitation of Algeria's significant potential for the production of raw materials used in the plastics industry, which will reduce imports.
• Intensify work and redouble efforts in the petrochemical sector to create an integrated industrial fabric commensurate with Algeria's expertise in the hydrocarbons field.
• The ultimate goal in this area is to enable Algeria to be at the forefront of countries producing these materials, particularly helium.
• The President also instructed that the Algerian company 'Fertial' be granted exclusivity in the exploitation of concentrated phosphate, in a first phase, as a component of the industrial fabric of the mining sector.

Second: regarding the monitoring of the sheep importation operation in preparation for Eid El-Adha

Following a presentation by the Minister of Agriculture—who committed before the Council of Ministers to ensuring the success of the importation operation and the distribution of one million sheep 48 hours before Eid El-Adha—the President of the Republic issued instructions to ensure, with greater rigor and at a more sustained pace, the success of the importation operation and to guarantee the distribution of the sheep under the best conditions.

• The President also ordered a ban on the slaughter of imported female lambs, directing them instead toward breeding in spaces dedicated to this purpose, with a view to preserving this livestock.

Third: regarding the progress of the mineral terminal projects as part of the Annaba Port extension and the Bled El Hadba-Oued Kebrit-Annaba Port mining railway line

• The President of the Republic praised the efforts made by the sector, instructing the Minister of Public Works to convey his greetings and encouragement to the workers and field teams in charge of implementing these new strategic projects.
• The President insisted on the need to maintain a high level of efficiency and a rapid, constant execution until the full realization of these projects, which will contribute to ushering Algeria into a new era as an emerging country with a diversified economy.
• The President also enjoined the Minister of Public Works to mobilize all necessary resources and accelerate the pace of realization of the public works projects intended to prepare for the exploitation of the Bled El Hadba phosphate, with a view to launching production as soon as possible.

Fourth: regarding the presentation on the situation of the Algerian Water Company (ADE) and water management

The President of the Republic instructed the Minister of the sector to review the water management and distribution plan in a more organized and efficient manner, attaching major importance to combating the phenomenon of water loss through the distribution networks, given the considerable losses recorded.

• The need to involve the various relevant sectors in the water management system in a way that guarantees greater efficiency in resolving the problems that hinder the optimal management of this vital resource, which must be preserved while respecting the concerns of citizens.
• The President ordered the review and modernization of the management method of the Algerian Water Company (ADE) following a logic of efficiency, particularly in municipalities equipped with water reservoirs and sources but lacking ADE agencies."